Billy Davies to sign a 4-year deal Monday? Despite us Addicks fans desperately seeking any form of hard news this week regarding potential managerial appointments, it had been pretty quiet up until yesterday.

So what do we now know? Peter Taylor was interviewed but was clearly passed over for the job by the board and in order for him to keep face up in Humberside the Addicks signed off on his "I think I should stay put" press release to ease tension that was gathering amongst Tigers' fans, not helped I have to say by his big mouthed chairman.

Colchester were approached to seek permission to speak to their manager Phil Parkinson, which was duly declined. The same message was sent to Ipswich and Derby. Remember the little Essex team ended up in court over George Burley. Of course no word from the man himself but he would be the first football manager in history to let the small detail of a contract stand in his way if he decided to pursue one of his suitors. Somehow I don't see Richard Murray wanting to fight the Colchester board's decision, but it was good to ask anyway because Parkinson undoubtably has a big future in the game.

Sammy Lee's name has been thrown into the frame too. The Mirror said that he has left England's training camp in Portugal to have "secret talks" with Charlton. It's news to Bolton though, where he is their assistant manager, according to this report.

The more interesting news came this afternoon when it was announced that Preston have given permission for the Addicks board to meet Billy Davies on Monday. Yesterday his odds on Betfair fell to 8-13.

In fact tomorrow's Times actually goes as far to say that he will be paraded in front of the press on Monday. "The Preston North End manager will hold more talks with the South London club over the weekend with a view to signing a four-year deal that could be worth as much as £2 million." (more)

The article also states that Paul Jewell was our first choice. Jewell, reminding us of Curbs 6-7 years ago, has a good relationship with his chairman and obviously would rather stick with what he has built as opposed to investigate greener pastures.

The idea of Davies has always sat well with me and I was suggesting his name to friends at the turn of the year as a long shot potential hire if the unthinkable happened to Curbishley. Craig Brown's assessment of him on the LMA site is very impressive and a budding appointment excites me. One other thing. Preston fans, and I have a mate who is one, will be mightily pissed off if he leaves, a recommendation in itself.

I do wonder though if Charlton will wait on Watford's end of the season Sunday to inquire about Adrian Boothroyd.

Searching the internet late tonight I also saw this in The Sun, which tells of Preston lining up Iain Dowie to replace Billy Davies, who "is heading south to take over at Premiership Charlton."

Sounds like we are getting close.  ¶ 01:53